Refrigerator



Oct. 18, 1949. G. R. HEIDENBLUT 2,484,997

REFRIGERATOR Filed July 8, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheetl 1 gif/54mg@ Oct. 18, 1949. G. RVHEIDENBLu-r 2,484,997

REFRIGERATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 8, 1946 mim-'2U Patented Cet. 18, 1949 REFRIGERATOR George R. Heidenblut, Des Plaines, Ill., assignor to Admiral Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application July 8, 1946, Serial No. 682,092

13 claims. 1

The present invention relates to refrigerators and in particular to refrigerators wherein the disposal of moisture present upon the walls of a food storage compartment is necessary; a multi-temperature refrigerator wherein one compartment is held at a temperature above freezing with a very high relative humidity is a common example of a refrigerator requiring moisture disposal.

The high humidity compartment of such a refrigerator is frequently cooled by cooling the walls and ceiling thereof in such a manner that for' the most part the temperature of the walls and ceiling is lower than that of the air in the compartment but not cooled to a point below 32 F. This cooling may be done in a number of ways. and a typical 'example thereof is illustrated and described in the co-pending application of Evans T. Morton, Serial No. 720,080, led January 3, 1947, for an invention entitled Refrigeraton The high humidity compartment is utilized generally for the storage of foods above freezing temperature, and the high humidity in the compartment insures that the stored foods will not be dehydrated or dried out, consequently it is unnecessary to provide this compartment with hydrators or similar containers which have in the past been used to reduce the amount of dehydration. Since, however, the compartment is maintained at a high humidity, the moisture in the air which circulates through the compartment, condenses upon the colder ceiling and walls of the compartment and unless properly disposed of will drip onto the food and other items which may be stored on the shelves in the compartment. This invention is concerned with the provision of means in the moist-cold compartment, as it a. novel means for collecting for disposal the moisture condensed upon the ceiling and walls of the compartment.

Another object of the present invention is to provid .z a moist-cold compartment which has the compartment liner shaped so as to provide for the most effective drainage of the condensed moisture.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel means for trapping the moisture which condenses on and flows down the side walls of the moist-cold compartment and for directing the condensed moisture into a removable container for disposal.

It is a further object to provide a norvel means for collecting the moisture condensed upon the ceiling and walls of the moist-cold compartment of a refrigerator, which does not interfere with the arrangement of the shelf space and which in itself affords support for a shelf.

And a still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel means for collecting for disposal the condensed moisture in the moistcold compartment of a refrigerator, which is attractive and easy to install and keep clean.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a refrigerator of the multi-temperature, multi-compartment type incorporating the present invention with the front outer door omitted for clarity of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on a further enlarged scale taken substantially along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view, similar to Fig. 2, of a modification of the disposal receptacle supporting means; and

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

For illustrative purposes the present invention I is shown embodied in a two-temperature, twocompartment refrigerator indicated generally by the reference character l0; this refrigerator is of the type shown and described in the aforementioned co-pending application of Evans T. Morton, and comprises a frost chest I2 which is maintained at a temperature substantially below freezing, a moist-cold compartment I4, and a machinery compartment I6. The moist-cold compartment I 4 is preferably maintained at a temperature of about 38 F. with a very high relative humidity. The moist-cold compartment is formed by a liner IB which has its forward edge secured to a frame 20 which provides the principal support therefor.

3 An outer shell 22 has its forward edge secured to the outer edge of the frame, and a panel 24 closes the rear of the cabinet. /The space between the' liner I8 and the guter shell 22 and panel 24 is filled -with a suitabl heat insulating material 26. A door '28' closes the front of the cabinet and carries a gasket which seals the moist-cold compartment I4 from the atmosphere.

'I'he moist-cold compartment I4 is provided with suitable shelves 30 which are preferably of the wire or open type to/provide minimum obstruction to the free circulation of air through the compartment. The shelves are supported upon suitable studs 32 secured to the walls of the liner I8 and are spaced therefrom for reasons which will appear hereinafter.

The moist-cold compartment I4 is preferably cooled by the secondary evaporator of a primarysecondary type of refrigerating system. The secondary evaporator is arranged in thermal contact with the outer surface of the walls of the liner I8 in such a manner that adequate cooling of the moist-cold compartment I4 takes place. During the on periods of cycling, a slight amount of frost may appear on the inner surface of the liner I8, but this frost disappears as soon as the cycling stops, with the moisture running down the inner surface of the wall. This frost forms on the liner wall adjacent the coldest portions of the secondary evaporator tubing and disappears as the cold spreads to other portions of the liner wall as the liner wall acts as a giant heat radiating fin.

The liner I6, Figs. 1 and 2, comprises a deep box having a rear wall 34, side walls 36 and 38, bottom 40 and ceiling 42. As seen in Fig. 1, the top or ceiling 42 is crowned at 44 giving a high point to the ceiling which extends from the front part of the compartment I4 substantially to the rear wall 34. This ceiling may be cooled by arranging a portion of the secondary evaporator tubing in thermal contact therewith, or it may be cooled by indirect thermal connection with the primary evaporator which cools the frost chest I2, even though the frost chest I2 and the moistcold compartment I4 be insulated from each other, since the insulation at this point is much thinner and, therefore, less effective than the insulation at other points in the cabinet.

Since the ceiling 42 of the compartment I4 is colder than the circulating air, moisture will condense thereupon. By providing the ceiling with the crown 44, the moisture condensed thereupon will run down the sloping ceiling to the side walls 36 and 38 and down these walls past the shelves 30 which are spaced slightly from the liner walls.

Adjacent the lower portion of the compartment at a point below the lowermost portion of the secondary evaporator coils there is positioned a means, indicated generally by the reference character 46, for collecting the drip or condensed moisture for disposal. The means 46 includes a drip deilector 48, a channel-shaped trough 52, and drip collecting receptacle or drawer 54. The deflector 46 (Fig. 2) extends around the two side walls 36 and 38 and the rear wall of 34 of the liner I8, with its ends adjacent the front edge of the liner at the frame 20. The deflector 46 comprises an angularly-shaped member having a. flange 56 forming an acute angle with a second flange 58. The apex of the angle is seated against the inner side of the liner walls in such a manner as to seal thereagainst. Referring particularly to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the flange 56 has a generally tapering cross-section with the 'the liner I8.

Widest portion at the junction of the flanges, giving the deilector 48 a substantial cross-sectional area at .that point. A groove 60 is formed in the deflector in the outer face of the flange 58. and a deformable sealing gasket 62 is retained in this groove to seal the flange 58 against the walls of The close seating of the deflector 48 against the liner walls and the sealing gasket 62 prevent moisture from flowing down the walls past the deilector.

Spaced at regular intervals around the side and rear walls 36, 38 and 34 of the liner I8 in the plane of the deflector 48 are a plurality of Rivnuts which have their heads 66 on the inside of the liner. The flange 58 is recessed at 68 to accommodate the heads 66 of the Rivnuts." The joint between each Rivnut 64 and the liner I8 is sealed With Hydrolene or other suitable sealing compound 65.

Channel-shaped drawer and shelf supporting rails 10 are secured against the walls 36 and 38 beneath the deilector 48. The rails 18 are provided with a flange 'I2 ollset at 14 from the web of the channel to overlie the flange 58 and to seat against the underside of the deilector 48. A single ilat head machine screw 16 passes through suitable bores in the flanges 12 and 58 to hold the assembly of the deilector 48 and the rails 19 to the walls 36 and 38. The drawer and shelf supporting rail 10 is not extended along the rear wall 34 since it is unnecessary to support the shelf or the receptacles or drawers across the back of the compartment.

Intermediate the rails 10 is positioned an H-shaped rail 18 having horizontally extending flanges. The H-shaped rail may be formed integrally with the right hand channel-shaped rail 10 and is connected thereto by webs 88 extending between upper flange 82 of the rail 18 and upper flange 84 of the channel-shaped rail 10. Added support is given the rail 18 by a pair of adjustable legs 86 which have their lower ends resting against the bottom 49 of the liner I8 and have their upper ends threaded and screwed into suitable tapped openings 88 in the web of the H-rail 18. A height-adjusting lock nut 98 is provided to position the rail 18 so that the receptacles supported thereby will be held on an even plane.

The trough 52 is co-extensive with the drip deflector 48, thus extending around three sides of the compartment I4, and is positioned immediately below the lower edge of the flange 56. The

trough 52 has a channel-shaped cross section,

and the inner flange thereof is provided with a short inwardly-projecting horizontally disposed flange 92 which supports a glass shelf 94. At its forward edge the glass shelf 94 seats in a recess 91 of a curved perforated panel 96 which forms the front edge of the shelf, indicated generally by the reference character 95. At the rear of the glass shelf 94 there is provided a similar perforated panel 98 which is supported by the flange 92. The front perforated panel 96 is secured to the trough 52, and its recess 91 retains the glass plate 94 against inadvertent removal; the rear perforated panel 98 ts into the space between the rear edge of the glass shelf 94 and the trough 52 to prevent transverse movement of the glass from the recess 91. The panels 96 and 98 are perforated to provide for circulation of cooling air through a drawer which is provided for storing bulk foodstuffs such as lettuce, tomatoes, etc. The drawer |00 is slidably supported on lower flanges |92 and 104 of the rails 18 and 10, respectively.

The drip collecting receptacle or drawer Il. positioned at the right hand side of the compartment I4, is supported on the other set of flanges |02 of the rail 18 and |04 of the rail 10 and, when inserted, is pushed all the way to the rear of the compartment so that upper outwardly-turned flange |06 of the drawer 54 contacts the rear wall 34 (Fig. 4). The trough 52 is formed with an extruded opening |08 in its bottom through which the water runs into the receptacle 5l. The receptacle is provided with a depression I I to cooperate with the opening |08 to direct the water into the interior thereof so that splattering is minimized.

During the operation of the refrigerator moist air is circulated through the compartment Il to maintain the stored foods cool and to retain them in their natural fresh state without dehydration. Since the walls and ceiling of the compartment are colder than the circulating air, moisture will condense thereupon. The moisture which is condensed upon the sloping ceiling 42 will run to the side walls 36 and 30 and to the drip deflector 88. The moisture which condenses upon the walls will similarly run down to the drip deflector 48. The shelves 30 are spaced from the walls 34, 36 and 88 so as not to interfere with the downward flow of moisture. Since the deflector is sealed against the liner walls, no moisture can flow therepast but will be directed across the surface of the flange 56 and will drip from the lower edge of this flange into the trough 52. As the water collects in the trough 52 it drains toward the opening |08 and drips therethrough into the receptacle 54. When the receptacle 54 has accumulated a quantity of moisture from the trough 52 it is removed, emptied and replaced. Melted frost, should frost appear, is collected similarly.

The shelf 95 is removable from the compartment, and the perforated plates 96 and 98 are provided at the front and rear to facilitate circulation of air through the storage drawer |00 t0 cool and keep fresh the food which is stored therein.

The refrigerator is easy to clean, since the shelves 30 are removable, the shelf 95 is removable. and the drawers 54 and |00 are removable. The compartment I4 has no crevices or recesses into which the condensed moisture might flow to form places for the collection of dirt and minute particles of foodstuffs, and this refrigerator will need cleaning no oftener than any other refrigerator. since the moisture which would otherwise collect in the bottom of the compartment is effectively collected in the receptacle 58 for disposal.

The drip deilector 48 may be made in one piece. but practically it has been found desirable to make it in two pieces with their adjacent inner ends at the rear of the compartment, and this joint may be covered by a suitable slip or plate I I2 which cooperates with the surface of the flange 56 to deflect condensed moisture into the trough 52.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a modification of the invention wherein a separate rail Ill is provided for the support of the adjacent sides of the drawers 54 and |00. The rail II4 is H-shaped in cross section and has a. lower flange I I6 for supporting the left side of the receptacle I, when the cabinet is viewed from the front. Upper flange |22 of the rail IIC is continued beyond the rear edge thereof and is bent upwardly to form a vertically disposed fiange I I8 which is provided with a suitable opening through which the machine screw 10 passes so as to support the rear end of the rail Ill. The rail II4 is supported at its forward end by a leg |20 similar in all respects to the legs 88 previously described. The upper flange |22 of the rail III also forms an additional support for the trough 52 and shelf 85 at the rear of the compartment. In al1 other respects this embodiment of the invention is similar to that previously described and the similarities need not be repeated.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that certain modifications and changes may be made in the present invention by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a refrigerator having a compartment wherein moisture is formed upon the ceiling and walls thereof, the combination of a liner forming the rear and side walls and ceiling of the compartment, said compartment ceiling being crowned so that moisture formed thereon will flow to and down the walls of the compartment, and means adjacent the lower portion of the compartment for collecting and disposing of the moisture, said means comprising a drip defiector having a higher edge seated against said liner, a trough positioned below a lower edge of said deflector to carry away the moisture dripping from said defector, and means associated with said trough to collect the moisture for disposal.

2. In a refrigerator having a compartment wherein moisture forms upon the ceiling and walls thereof, the combination of a liner forming the rear and side walls and ceiling of the compartment, said compartment ceiling being crowned so that moisture formed thereon will flow to and down the walls of the compartment, and means adjacent the lower portion of the compartment for collecting and disposing of the moisture, said means comprising a drip deflector having a higher edge seated against said liner, a trough, means removably supporting said trough below a lower edge of said defiector to carry away the moisture dripping from said deflector, and means associated with said trough to collect the moisture for disposal.

3. In a refrigerator having a compartment wherein moisture condenses upon the ceiling and walls thereof, the combination of a liner forming the rear and side walls and ceiling of the compartment, said compartment ceiling being crowned so that moisture condensed thereon will flow to and down the walls of the compartment. and means adjacent the lower portion of the compartment for collecting and disposing of the moisture, said means comprising an angularlydisposed drip deflector having its higher edge seated against said liner, a trough, means removably supporting said trough below the lower edge of said deector to carry away the moisture dripping from said deflector, and a container removably supported by said trough supporting means and associated with said trough to collect the moisture for disposal.

4. In a refrigerator having a compartment wherein moisture forms upon the walls thereof, the combination of a liner forming the rear and side walls of the compartment, and means adiacent the lower portion of the com-partment for collecting and disposing of the moisture, said means comprising a drip deflector having a higher generally horizontal edge seated against said liner, a lower generally horizontal edge and a downwardly sloping surface interconnecting 7 said higher and lower edges, a trough positioned below said lower edge of said deilector to carry away the moisture dripping 'from said defiector, and means associated with said trough to collect the moisture for disposal.

5. In a refrigerator having a moist-cold compartment wherein moisture condenses upon the ceiling and walls thereof, the combination of a liner forming the rear and side walls and ceiling Yof the compartment, said compartment ceiling being crowned with the high point thereof extending from the front to the rear of the compartment so that moisture condensed thereon will flow to and down the side walls thereof, and means adjacent the lower portion of the compartment for collecting the condensed moisture forv disposal.

6. In a refrigerator having a moist-cold compartment wherein moisture condenses upon the ceiling and walls of the compartment, the combination of a liner forming the rear and side walls and ceiling of the compartment, said compartment ceiling being crowned so that moisture condensed thereon will flow to and down the walls of the compartment, and means adjacent the lower portion of the compartment for collecting the moisture, said means comprising an angularly shaped member extending around said three walls of the compartment, the angle between the flanges of said member being less than 90 with the apex of the angle positioned higher than the edges of the flanges, rails positioned below said member, means securing said rails and said member to said liner, sealing means interposed between said member and said liner to prevent condensed moisture from flowing between said liner and said member, a trough coextensive with said member supported by said rails, a shelf supported by said trough, an opening in said trough through which condensed moisture flows, and means positioned below said opening and supported by said rails for collecting the condensed moisture for disposal.

'7. In a refrigerator having a moist-cold compartment wherein moisture condenses upon the ceiling and walls of the compartment, the combination of a liner forming the rear and side walls and ceiling of the compartment, said compartment ceiling being crowned so that moisture condensed thereon will flow to and down the walls of the compartment, and means adjacent the lower portion of the compartment for collecting the moisture, said means comprising an angularly shaped member extending around said three walls of the compartment, the angle between the flanges of said member being less than 90 with the apex of the angle positioned higher than the edges of the flanges, rails positioned below said member, common means securing said rails and said member to said liner, sealing means interposed between said member and said liner to prevent the condensed moisture from flowing between said liner and said member, a trough coextensive with said member supported by said rails. an opening in said trough through which condensed moisture flows, and means positioned below said opening and supported by said rails for collecting the condensed moisture for disposal.

8. In a refrigerator having a moist-cold compartment wherein moisture condenses upon the ceiling and walls of the compartment, the combination of a liner forming the rar and side walls and ceiling of the compartment, said compartment ceiling being crowned so that moisture condensed thereon will flow to and down the walls of the compartment, and means adjacent the lower portion of the compartment for collecting the moisture, said means comprising an angularly shaped member extending around said three walls of the compartment, the angle between the flanges of said member being less than with the apex of the angle positioned higher than the edges of the flanges, rails positioned below said member, means securing said rails and said member to said liner, a trough coextensive with said member supported by said rails, an opening in said trough through which condensed moisture flows, and means positioned below said opening and supported by said rails for collecting the condensed moisture for disposal.

9. In a refrigerator having a moist-cold compartment wherein moisture condenses upon the ceiling and walls of the compartment, the combination of a liner forming the rear and Side walls and ceiling of the compartment, said compartment ceiling being crowned so that moisture condensed thereon will flow to and down the walls of 'the compartment, and means adjacent the lower portion of the compartment for collecting the moisture, said means comprising an angularly shaped member extending around said three walls oi the compartment, the angle between the flanges of said member being less than 90 with the apex of the angle positioned higher than the edges of the flanges, a pair of rails positioned below said member along opposite walls of the compartment, means securing said rails and said member to said liner, sealing means interposedl between said member and said liner to prevent condensed moisture from flowing between said liner and said member, a trough coextensive with said member supported by said rails, an opening in said trough through which condensed moisture flows, a third rail positioned between said pair of rails and formed integrally with one vof them, and means positioned below said opening and supported by said third rail and said last mentioned one of said pair of rails for collecting the condensed moisture for disposal.

10. In a refrigerator having a moist-cold compartment wherein moisture condenses upon the ceiling and walls of the compartment, the combination of a liner forming the rear and side walls and ceiling of the compartment, said compartment ceiling being crowned so that moisture condensed thereon will flow to and down the walls of the compartment, and means adjacent the lower portion of the compartment for collecting the moisture, said means comprising an angularly shaped member extending around said three walls of the compartment, the angle between the flanges of said member being less than 90 with the apex of the angle positioned higher than the edges of the flanges, a pair of rails positioned below said member and along opposite walls of the compartment, means securing said rails and said member to said liner, sealing means interposed between said member and said liner to prevent condensed moisture from flowing between said liner and said member, a trough coextensive with said member supported by said rails, an opening in said trough through which condensed moisture flows, a third rail positioned between said pair of rails and formed integrally ,with one of them, height adjusting means partially supporting said third rail, and means positioned below said opening and supported by said third rail and said last mentioned one of said pair of rails for collecting the condensed moisture for disposal.

11. In a refrigerator' having a moist-cold compartment wherein moisture condcnscs upon the bination of a liner forming the rear and side walls and ceiling of the compartment, said compartment ceiling being crowned so that moisture condensed thereon will ow to and down the walls of the compartment, and means adjacent the lower portion of the compartment for collecting the moisture, said means comprising an angularly shaped member extending around said three walls of the compartment, the angle between the flanges of said member being less than 90 with the apex of the angle positioned higher than the edges of the flanges, a pair of rails positioned below said member along opposite walls of the compartment, means securing said rails and said member to said liner, sealing means interposed between said member and said liner to prevent condensed moisture from flowing between said liner and said member, a trough coextensive with said member supported by said rails, an opening in said trough through which condensed moisture ows, a third rail positioned'between said pair of rails and secured to the rear wall of the compartment, height adjusting means partially supporting said third rail, and means positioned below said opening and supported by said third rail and one of said pair of rails for collecting the condensed moisture for disposal.

12. In a refrigerator having a compartment wherein moisture is formed upon the ceiling and walls thereof, the combination of a liner forming the ceiling and three Walls of the compartment,

' ceiling and walls of the compartment, the coma generally horizontally arranged drip deflector mounted on said liner in the lower portion of the compartment, a trough separable from but associ- 'ated with said drip deector to receive moisture dripping therefrom, an opening in the bottom of said trough, and a removable container positioned below said opening to collect the moisture for disposal.

13. In a refrigerator having a compartment wherein moisture is formed upon the ceiling and walls thereof, the combination, of a liner forming the ceiling and three walls of the compartment, said compartment ceiling being crowned so that moisture formed thereon will flow to and down the walls of the compartment, a generally horizontally arranged drip deector mounted on said liner in the lower portion of the compartment, a shelf-supporting trough separable from but associated with said drip deector to receive moisture dripping therefrom, and a removable container positioned below said opening to collect the moisture for disposal.

GEORGE R. HEIDENBLUT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fLle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

